Board Games

A nonprofit-board seat isn’t an honorary position. There’s a saying when it comes to sitting on such a board: “Give, get, or get off.” For most boards, there’s a recommended minimum donation—up to $35,000 a year at the Aspen Institute—and you either give it personally, raise it, or give up your seat. In rare instances, organizations decide that an individual’s name recognition is credit enough, but usually, as Puff Daddy would say, “it’s all about the Benjamins.”

While there are hundreds of local nonprofits, only a handful, including the National Gallery of Art and the Kennedy Center, count as prestigious; some seemingly prestigious boards, as at the Smithsonian, are more serious than fun, involving lots of work and oversight.

Boards go through hot and cold phases. Under Septime Webre, the Washington Ballet has become a hot board, whereas Arena Stage is waning. The White House Historical Association isn’t high on the power meter—one of its main responsibilities is the annual White House holiday ornament—yet with board members such as Mike McCurry and Michael Beschloss, it’s high on prestige.

Here’s a guide to some of the area’s top nonprofit boards.

Board

Boldface Names

Big Givers

What to Know

Old or New Money?

Hot or Not?

Prestige Factor

Aspen Institute

Madeleine Albright, Fred Malek, Queen Noor

Leonard Lauder of Estée Lauder, venture capitalist John Doerr

This think tank has lots of cool events, especially its summer
Colorado retreats